Alaska’s 2018 Medicare Part D plan overview

Introduction:

Based on the 2018 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan information released by
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Alaska seniors and Medicare
beneficiaries will find that 2018 will bring a number of changes to their prescription drug
coverage and beneficiaries should be prepared to see how their current 2017 Medicare Part D
plan is changing in 2018. To assist, we now have our 2018 PDP-Compare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) tool
online to show basic changes in plan coverage at PDP-Compare.com/2018/AK.

Please note that the information we provide below is based only on stand-alone Medicare
Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs). We do not compare
stand-alone drug plans directly with Medicare Advantage plans. Unlike PDPs, Medicare Advantage plans
provide coverage for Medicare Part A (in-patient hospital coverage),
Medicare B (out-patient physician visits), and may include comprehensive prescription drug
coverage (called MAPD plans). Medicare
Advantage plans may also include additional benefits such as dental, vision, and health club coverage.
For more information, seniors can review all Medicare Advantage plans available in their area using our
2018 MA-Finder.

What’s new for Alaska’s2018 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

Alaska 2018 Medicare Part D premium increases and decreases:Of the 19 Medicare Part D plans available in Alaska for 2018, 9 plan(s) will lower their premiums
and 8 will increase their premiums. Currently, 72.4% of Alaska residents enrolled in a stand-alone
Medicare Part D plan are enrolled in one of the 8 plans with a premium increase. The average premium increase
for members of these plans will be $5.04 per month.

The 2018 average monthly Medicare Part D premium in Alaska will decrease:Overall, the average monthly 2018 prescription drug plan premiums in Alaska will
decrease 0.76% from a 2017 average monthly premium of $50.12 to a 2018 average Part D plan premium of $49.36.

The average monthly premium discussed above consider all stand-alone Medicare Part D plans equally.
Perhaps a more telling average is the weighted average — that is, looking at each plan’s
monthly premium weighted by the number of people enrolled in that particular plan. Based on the weighted
average, Alaska residents can expect to see
a 7% increase in their monthly premiums. This means that if everyone stays in
their current 2017 prescription drug plan through 2018, then across the state we can
expect beneficiaries to pay 7% more for their monthly premium.

As reference, the national average monthly Medicare Part D premium will
increase from $51.96 in 2017 to $52.69 in 2018. Based on the 2017 enrollment figures, 60.7% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries nationwide (over 12 million people) could experience an average increase in premium of $8.12, unless they switch to a lower priced plan.

Alaska will have more Medicare Part D (PDP) plan choices:
Locally, Alaska residents will find that the total number of stand-alone 2018 Medicare prescription drug plans has
increased from 18 in 2017 to 19 stand-alone Part D plans.

A wide assortment of national and regional Medicare Part D plans are offered in
each state
or CMS region,
with the average number of prescription drug plans offered per state
increasing from 22 plans in 2017 to 23 plans in 2018. You can review all 2018 Medicare Part D Plans available in Alaska at PDP-Finder.com/2018/AK.

As a note, if you find that your current 2017 Part D plan is not being offered in
2018, you may wish to review your Part D plan’s Annual Notice of Change (or ANOC)
letter to see if you will be automatically moved to another 2018 prescription drug plan
or whether you will need to actively choose a new 2018 Medicare Part D plan.

If you are automatically switched to a new plan for any reason, please review the
new plan closely. Automatic plan switches DO NOT take into account your specific
medication coverage and pharmacy needs. Check to be sure that your new plan provides the coverage you need.

The range of monthly drug plan premiums will decrease:
The premiums within Alaska will range from $20.40 (Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP) in AK)
to $96.70 (First Health Part D Premier Plus (PDP) in AK) — as compared to the 2017 Alaska monthly premium
range of $17.00 to $108.30.

In comparison, across the country the 2018 Medicare Part D plan premiums range from a low of $12.60 (EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) in SC)
to a high of $197.10 (Blue Cross MedicareRx Plus (PDP) in TX).

The same number of Medicare Part D plans with a monthly premium under $25:
Alaska residents will have the same number of lower premium Medicare Part D (PDP) plan options.
There will be 3 plans having a premium under $25, remaining unchanged from the
3 Part D plans under $25 offered in 2017.

More Medicare prescription drug plans will offer some level
of Coverage Gap protection:
The selection of prescription drug plans with Donut Hole coverage has also changed with more companies
offering 2018 Part D plans with some level of additional coverage (over the standard generic and
brand-name drug discounts) for purchases made in the Coverage Gap.
In 2017, 4 plans
offered plans with some form of Donut Hole coverage and in 2018 that number will
increase to 6 plans. People are reminded to see which drugs are
actually covered in the donut hole because some Medicare Part D plans only cover a "few"
drugs through the Coverage Gap.

More Medicare prescription drug plans are
offered with enhanced options:
Alaska residents will find that more Part D plans will offer
enhanced prescription drug coverage options with 10 enhanced Part D plans in 2018 as compared to 9 in 2017.
Enhanced Medicare Part D coverage includes prescription drug plans that have a lower or no
initial deductible and a variation of cost-sharing (for instance, copayments instead of
co-insurance). For example, in 2018, more Alaska Part D
plans will offer prescription drug coverage with a $0 initial deductible (6 plans in 2018 as compared to 5 plans in 2017).

Low-Income Subsidy recipients in Alaska will have more
Medicare Part D plans that qualify for the $0 monthly premium:
Alaska Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for full "Extra Help" will find
that more Part D plans qualify for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy as
compared to last year.
In 2017, 5 Medicare Part D plans qualified for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy
as compared to 7 Part D plans in 2018.

Please note, if you received "Extra Help" in 2017 and your plan does not qualify for the $0 premium in 2018, you may
be automatically moved to a new Part D plan that does qualify for the $0 premium. If this occurs, please check
to be sure that your prescriptions are covered on your new plan.
If your prescriptions are not covered, you can switch to a plan that will cover your medications.

To Summarize:
Alaska seniors and Medicare beneficiaries will see more prescription drug plan choices in 2018
and can expect to see higher monthly premiums.

In addition, behind the numbers, some of 2017’s more popular Medicare Part D plans
will change their 2018 plan structure. Some plans are adding initial deductibles
or changing cost-sharing limits (for instance, how much you pay for a covered drug).

Accordingly, beneficiaries are reminded to consider their 2018 prescription drug plan
options carefully. If you are a Medicare beneficiary and make no decision about changing
your existing prescription drug coverage, you will be automatically reenrolled in your
existing prescription drug plan — along with any changes that have been made in your
plan’s coverage or cost for 2018. If your prescription drug plan will be
discontinued, and you are not automatically moved into a new plan, you will need to enroll
in another Part D plan or you may not have prescription drug coverage in 2018.

We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information.
However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist.
For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

We are an independent education, research, and technology company. We are not affiliated with any Medicare plan, plan carrier, healthcare provider, or insurance company. We are not compensated for Medicare plan enrollments. We do not sell leads or share your personal information.

The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.

Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.

We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area.
However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service
area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048),
24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.

Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.

Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.

You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.

If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.

Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.

A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.

Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.

Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare.
Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.

Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.

Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits
money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible.
The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.

Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll
during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.

Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.

Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the
medicare.gov site.
Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.